Mast



Dec. 26, 1944. E D, NEgVKlRK 2,365,900

' f MAST Filed July 1, 1942 Patented Dec; ze, i944 t STATES PAT ENST" llCiE l y MAST EdgarDf. Newkirk, Skaneateles; NLYsWassi-gnor t'm Abal.A Drilling; Conporationysynacuse;NI YL, a.v corporation of` New` York Application; J illy-1L. 1942,e Serial; a. o1anns. (o1. 13g-pani This inventionrelatesy tomasts, and more' particularly'to' a mast? adaptedffor` use withportableY oi-lvWellv drilling rigs: v t

Portable oil# welll drilling rigsrhavebeen devel?- oped which` employ masts'- liav-irrgl sheaves over which the cables `pass forthee various functions' in drilling' andf servioingrthe Wells. The masts" aresupported inavv a;- 'positi'on-inclined'v from4 the vertical so-tha1 their' upperwernisl are over the@ Wells'with-'Whielrthey are associat'ecl The masts aremountedritoswingfrom'a; horizontal positiorrv` to operative position' and are'` supported andi an'- chorecf inA operaziverA positions1 by means: of' guy` calolesHV secured at" t'heir:'up1n ern ends to: the masts* and4 at'their lower-ends to? suitable groundanz chors. Itisessential;ofc-ourse; thatthe' upper' end of amast bef-accuratelypositonedin'vertiizal alinementl with the Wellanclu to`r secure suoni/e1*` tical alinementi' the guyc'ables are adjustemltov move the upper end of tl'regmast. The support#- ing means for the masiusually vis in' the form of timbers orthelike restingupon` the surrounding'v ground; Orrin tlreffjor'rnA of: a platform: structure.

Due to the' loadsVv support-,ect by" a' mast ofithi's character; thereis always some' settling ofV the, ground with a consequent ten'olfenoyA for the mast" to'becomedistorted'andeubjeoted tovery uneven' strains. This' resultsn quite' frequently inA the bending'or breaking of. the mast,` thus requiring:`

t'urbi'ng. they equal; distribution of "the` strains through. themast. strueture.

A further object` is to. provide. a4 mast` of.

type which is. readily adapt'edto besupportedfm bearings. tor-permitit to be swung, toits operative:

position andwhicliis vso constructed Aas fito/permit..`

relative movement. of'. the mast with.. respectJ to,A

the` supporting,bearings,and` associated elements'l totvpermit. the..upper. endh ofsthefrnast to tbe moved,

to vertically1 aline itfwith .atwell- Without.subjeot. ing themassfto.- uneven-stresses; and strains.v

A4 further objecti isr to provide-a mast hailing;v noi/el` means fonconnecting:` it: toy its supportingn structures and, wherein: suchr means: provides. ,ar

xed conneetiormvhiled tliezmast-v isJ being; hoisted: to operative position, but which:innate'bezreleasexii atten t-l1e1guy` cables: are installed-lu to:` permit the upperend ofthemast oibe moveriito alineiit with th'exwell.'i

Other oljectsaamt advantagesaoi*thefinventlon; will.' become apparent; during;` the c.ou1:se;.o^f the.v fsollmming; deserptione In the drawing ,Ihxwex shown several embocii.w mentsrofithe inventiom., Im this; showing:`

Eignrezlrisra perspective viewfof-thesmasiz show:- ing ,the upperrendssof. the: gingr cables;

t Figure ZisCan emerged fana-viewer the-,lower endijportion ot; the;` mas-1; structure andits sup-K Hormiga" tDuniL-msff hemlastl basefbeing shownl in: seotion,.

Figura-Bliss attramsverse section; on:l line 3--31'of; Figure 2,

- Figure 4isanften1argedffraamentarysiderelevation onthezlowerfend ot ama-stand itsfsupporting` tnunnions, showing;A afmodieiorm; of the 4 invenetion,

Eig: 5 isa detail perspective View of= therelefments of theinventiom shown Figure 4;, theparts being,senanataect,`

Eigure issa. detai-Lagmentary sectional .View om. line l6a=o4 Figure 4 showingL the parts in. normal. positionw Figure' 7.' assimiler: view showingthe, partsin,

, apositionthey may asslunawhilethe mast is t in.

operation',. t Y

EignreA is afragmentary sideelevation show-V ing a-;-furthen modiedtformof thei'nventiom and,. `FigmreA 9T is ap1an.view of one, ofthe elementsj ofthe same.

Referring;to;Ei'gure.'1.`,A tl'e. numerali ID,, designates a.. mast-iasy at.. whole of.' thetype commonly` referredtoasen I -fmasl'M This mastisshowntas beingprovided.wiri'tliv front? legs I-I' and; rear legs lzwlbneonverge' toward each.A other at theirv lower end'sland have', theirl lower.` extremities weldedoroth'erwise" securedto asupporting plate.

rigidly, securing. them to each other and' these oross'members are f'cutaway' as" atA t5.` to" provide space fonfthe-verticfalmovemenvofithe traveling' blockemployediinfconnectionwiththe' apparatus.' A* relatively* heavyorown' plate'` It" at theY upper,` endofithelfgs"preventsthetopioftlie mast-from bjeingtwi'stediwherrtherguy'caldles Fr'areunevenlya tightened caljlis are* conventional,` of course; andiarefsecured*aitheir'lbwerends to vthe" groundl byanyvsuitabwtype of anchoringjmeansinvention and may be of any desired construction. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the numeral I9 designates a supporting unit having trunnions at its ends mounted in any suitable type of bearings 2| (Figure 1) and these bearings may be secured to any suitable supporting structure such as a heavy timber platform constructed to be supported upon the surrounding ground. The top of the supporting unit is recessed as at 22 and the recess has upwardly sloping diverging end surfaces 23 as clearly shown in Figure 2. The plate I3 has its ends contacting with and sloping similar to the surfaces 23, and the bottom of the plate I3 is spaced from the bottom of the recess 22.

The plate I3 iS provided at its edges with depending flanges 24 (Figure 3) which straddle the supporting unit I 9 to prevent displacement of the plate I3 and the mast structure with respect to the unit I9. Bolts 25 are extended through the plate I3 and into the unit I9 andare provided with nuts 25 by means of which the plate I3 may be anchored with respect to the unit I9. When the nuts'26 are loosened, the plate I3 and consequently the entire mast structure, are adapted to rock with respect to the unit I9.

A somewhat modified form ofthe invention is shown in Figures 4 to '7 inclusive. The supporting unit is indicated by thenumeral 21vand is likewise provided with trunnions 28 at its ends adapted to be supported in the bearings 2|. The unit 21 is cut away in opposite faces thereof t0 form recesses 29 (Figures 4 and 5) and the ends of these recesses have upwardlydiverging surfaces 39.

A base plate 3l has the lower ends of the legs II and I2 welded thereto as in the form of the invention previously described and is provided with depending side flanges 32 generally similar to the flanges 24 except that their ends 33 are curved as shown in Figures 4 and 5. These curved ends bear against and are supported by .the sloped ends of the recesses 29.4 The body of the supporting unit 21 is provided `with an opening 34 (Figures 5, 6 and 7) andthis opening receives a heavy bolt 35 of such diameter as to approximately t the opening 24. Normally in axial alinement with the opening 34 the flanges 32 are provided with conical openings 36 to receive conical heads k31 slidable `on the bolt 35. The bolt 35 is provided outwardly of each head 31 with a nut 38. When the apparatus is being installed the parts occupy the positions shown in Figure G, allendwise movement of the flanges 32 and top plate 3l being prevented. \When the device is assembled and the mast is supported by the guy cables the loosening of the nuts 38 will permit the parts to assume the positions shown in Figure '1 if it is necessary for` the plate 3| and its flanges 32 to rock with'respectto the supporting unit 21.

A slightly modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 8 and 9 wherein a supporting unit 39, having trunnions 40 at its ends is recessed in its sides as at 4I, the supporting unit thus being very similar in construction to the unit 21. In the present case, however, each side of the unit is arcuately recessed as at 42 to receive a circular hardened steel element 43. Opp osite disks 43 are secured byel fastening element 44 extending through the unit 39. The legs of the mast are secured attheir lower ends to a plate 45 having depending side flanges 46 the ends of which are sloped asv at 41 and bear against the disks 43 to be supported thereby.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is as follows:

The trunnions 20 are mounted in their bearings 2I` with the mast structure in a horizontal position, and the bearings are secured to the supporting structure previously prepared for .this purpose. The portable well drilling apparatus is then operated to hoist the mast to operative position by passing around the hoisting drum a cable which is suitably connected to the upper end of the mast. While the mast is shown in Figure 1 as being vertical it will be apparent that in the actual operation of the structure as a drilling mast, the structure will be inclined from the vertical so that the sheaves (not shown) at the upper end of the mast will be vertically alined with the well. The cables I1 are then suitably anchored and tightened to support the mast approximately in its proper position.

It will be apparent that the operation just described will be carried out with the parts in the normal positions shown in Figure 2 with the nuts 26 tightened under which conditions the mast structure and the supporting unit I9 will be xed with respect to each other. The nuts 26 are then loosened to a substantial extent whereupon the cables I1 may be suitably adjusted to properly position the upper end of the mast with respect i to the well. Assuming that the upper end of the mast will have been arranged slightly to one side of a position in vertical alinement with the well, the adjustment of the guy cables will have been accomplished by imparting rocking movement of the mast with respect to its supporting unit I9 while the latter will remain in its same position with the trunnions 2l] in the bearings 2|.

The rocking movement of the mast in a plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the unit I9 takes place by one end of the plate I3 Sliding eol upwardly along its sloping supporting face 23 while the other end of the plate I3 slides downwardly with respect to its supporting face 23. Thus it will be apparent that the loosening of the nuts 26 will permit the mast to be swung in one direction or the other in the plane referred to while the structure is adapted to turn about the axis of the trunnions 20 for movement of the mast perpendicular to the axis of the supporting unit. While the engagement of the ends of the plate I3 with the sloping faces 23 permits rocking movement of the lower end of the mast from the unit supporting unit I9 when'the nuts 26 are loosened, it will be apparent that there can be no displacement of the lower ends of the mast from the unit I9 because of the straddling of this unit by the flanges 24. The nuts 29 accordingly are left loose during the drilling and servicing operations,.the unit I9 serving solely to support the weight and the vertical loads imparted to the masts without serving to anchor the mast as to its position. The latter function is performed solely by the cables I1. Accordingly it will be apparent that the mast is adapted to assume adjusted positions with respect to the unit I9 to properly position it with greater strains than the corresponding elements at the other side of the mast. This arrangement permits the use of a lighter mast structure and substantially eliminates any danger of the buckling of the mast.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 7 inclusive is similar to ascension? permitting the mast to rock endwise'. with respec-t to the. uni-t 21:., Thisfrocking; movement takes placelwith the curved endsf33-of theilanges- 32; sliding over thesloping surfaces 30 andwhile: suah. rocking` movement misalines` the;- conical. openings 3:6 (Figures 6 and '7) with respect to .the opening.- 341such` movement. is permitted sincethe conical heads 31I arefree to slide outwardly from the.` recesses 36. The relativepositions of4` the parts when the mas-t structure is. swung in. one direction longitudinally of` the supporting: unit 21. is. shown in` Figure '7. v

In the; form of the invention shown in Figures 8. and 9 the operationtakes: place inv a similar manner.` Any suitablemeans-ll (not shown) such the bolts" 25: (Figure 2) or` the bolts 3.15 and: associated elements (Figures 6-and 7,) may be, employed for fixing the plate 45 with respecttd the unit: 3S: until the mast is supported by the guy cables. The means for securing the plate. 45 to the unit 39 is then loosened whereupon the mast structure is adapted to rock in a. direction longitudinally of the unit 39 with the sloping edges 41 of the flanges 46 sliding over the disks From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present structure eliminates serious faults previously encountered in mast structures of this general type. Masts heavier than are theoretically necessary are commonly employed because of the previous impossibility of uniformly distributing stresses and strains, and even with such excessively heavy structures failures Aare not insured against. The present apparatus does not add appreciably to the cost of the mast strucbe taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shapes, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or-the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A mast construction comprising a base unit, means for supporting said base unit for turning movement on a given single axis, a mast unit wholly supported by said base unit, and releaseable means for rigidly securing said units to each other, said units having coacting spaced engaging portions constructed and arranged whereby said mast unit is movable in a plane substantially coincident with said axis when said securing means is released while said mast is supported i by said spaced engaging portions.

2. A mast construction comprising a base unit having coaxial trunnions adapted to be mounted in bearings whereby it may turn on the axis of said trunnions, a mast unit wholly supported on said base unit, and releaseable bolt means for rigidly securing said mast unit to said base unit, said units having spaced coacting contacting portions constructed and varranged to provide for rocking movement of, said mast unit relative to said base unit in a plane coincident withzthe` axis of" said. trunnions when` said bolt means is;releasedwhile said mast supported?. byfsaicl` spaced coacting portions.

3iA mast construction comprising a' base unitiv having means for supportingl it for turning move-- menton a given axis, a. mast, a plate fixed, to

the" lower end of said mast and having spaced` portions directly engaging said base unit whereby the-v latter,I supports. said mast, and releaseable.V bolt, means.` for' securing said plate to said base unit, said portions of said plate and said base unit being constructed and arrangedV with respect-toy eachother whereby said mast is rockablein aplane substantially coincident with said axis, while said spaced portions are supported4 on: said-base unit and` when said bolt means` is releasedy I 4. A mast construction comprising a `base unit having means for supporting it for turning movement on a givenhorizontal axis, a mast, a platef fixed-1 tothe: lower end ofsaid mast, said base; uniti having upwardly diverging faces engaged: by portionsot, said plate whereby said mast isf supported by said base unit, and releaseable bolt means for| fixing said plate with respect to said base unit, the portions of said plate engaging said diverging faces being slidable respectively upwardly and downwardly over said faces when said bolt means is released to vary the position of the upper end of said mast approximately in a plane coincident with said axis.

5. A mast construction comprising a horizontal elongated base unit,'coaxial trunnions projecting from the ends of said base unit whereby the lat-fv downwardly alongV the supporting'faces adja-y cent respective ends of said base unit when said bolt means is released.

6. A mast construction comprising a horizontal elongated base unit, coaxial trunnions projecting from the ends of said base unit whereby the latter is adapted to be supported for turning movement on a horizontal axis, said base unit having recesses in its sides each provided with upwardly diverging supporting faces, a mast, a plate fixed to the lower end of said mast and provided with depending flanges straddling said base unit and having its ends engaging said supporting faces whereby said plate and said mast are supported thereby, said base unit being provided with a bolt receiving opening transversely therethrough, a bolt projecting through said opening, said flanges being provided vwith openings substantially larger than said rst named opening, conical heads slidable on said bolt, land a nut threaded on each end of said bolt and engageable with said heads to force them tightly into the openings in said flanges to fix said plate with respect to said base unit.

7. A mast construction comprising a base unit elongated horizontally and having coaxial trunsupporting end surfaces, a mast, a normally hor-` izontal plateiixed to the lower end of said mast and having its ends engaging said supporting faces whereby said plate and said mast are supported thereby, and a bolt projecting downward- 1y through said plate and said base unit to x them with respect to each other, the ends of said plate being slidable upwardly yand downwardly over the respective supporting faces to provide for movement of the upper end of the mast substantially in the plane of said axis when said bolt is released. Y y Y 8. A mast construction comprising a horizontally elongated supporting unit having coaxial trunnions projecting from its ends to support said unit for turning movement about a, given horizontal axis, a mast, a plate fixed to the bottom of said mast and provided with parallel depending flanges straddling said supporting unit, said unit and said flanges having pairs of engaging faces at each side of said supporting unit and adjacent each end thereof, and releaseable means for fixing said plate with respect to said unit,V one face of each pair-being convex to facilitate rocking movement of the unit in a plane coincident with said axis when said securing means is released.

9. A mast construction comprising a horizontally'elongated supporting unit having coaxial trunnions projecting from its ends to support said unit for turning movement about a given horizontal axis, a mast, a plate fixed to the bottom of said mast and provided with parallel deA pending flanges, said supporting unit having its sides recessed to receive said flanges and the ends of each recess diverging upwardly and engaging the ends of the corresponding flange to support said plate and the mast, and releaseable securing means for xing said plate with respect to said supporting unit, the respective ends of said flanges being convex to facilitate sliding movement thereof with respect to the corresponding diverging faces when said securing means is released.

EDGAR D. NEWKIRK. 

